Kevin Pietersen: 'Australia batting is fragile ahead of fourth Test'

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has labelled Australia's batting "fragile" ahead of the fourth Ashes Test.

The tourists have struggled through the middle order, with none of Michael Clarke, Adam Voges or Mitchell Marsh reaching 50 so far.

Australia need to win one of the two remaining Test matches to stand a chance of retaining the urn, but Pietersen doubts that they have the experience with the bat.

He wrote in The Telegraph: "This Australian batting order is as fragile as any I have ever seen before. Too many top players are out form. Michael Clarke needs runs. He has to make a score or else who knows what will happen to him.

"Chris Rogers has experience playing domestic cricket over here so he understands how to bat in these conditions. But the rest do not have that experience.

"David Warner has made a couple of scores in the second innings. But you have to make big runs in the first innings to put pressure on England to win games."

The fourth Test begins on Thursday at Trent Bridge.